Key-ring



(No Model.)

B H MELENDY.

KEY RING. o. 268,935. Patented Sept. 5, 1882;

WITNESS I If I INVENTOR:

WES J7 M@ L BY r T ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, PlloioLillwgnphnr. Washington D. c.

V UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

BRYANT MELENDY, OF BATTLE GREEK, MIOHIGAN.

KEY-RING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 263,935, dated September 5, 1882.

' Application filed June 14, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: --Be it known that I, BRYANT H. MELENDY, of Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State ot' Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Key-Rings, of which the followin g is a full, clear, and exact description. it

This invention consists in a fiat key-ring of novel construction, andclasp for locking said ring when closed, whereby the ring, which opens sidewise, 'may be easily opened, and when closed be perfectly secured both against its ends riding upon one another or-separating circumt'erentially and against their opening 1 laterally; also theclasp, which may lie flush with the outer edge of the ring, is restrained from being accidentally opened or working open.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying 2o drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 represents a side view, upon anenlarged scale, of my improved key-ring with 2 clasp applied thereto in its closed position on the ring; and Fig.2, a-top or edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side view, showing the clasp as thrown back or open; and Fig. 4, a top or edge View with the parts in the same position 0 as in Fig. 3, and showing the ring as opened laterally. Fig. 5 is an outside edge view, upon a still larger scale, of the clasp detached.

A is a flat ring out transversely, so as to form two meeting ends of irregular angular shape, as at b c, where they meet and fit one into the other, so as to permit of said ends being sprung sidewise, but preventing them from moving upon each other edgewise. The end portions, cl 0, of the ring are also provided with outer edge-notches,f g, and the one 0 of said end portions with a notch, h, in its inner edge. Holes 6 are also made through the sides of both end portions, (1 e.

B is a clasp pivoted by teats or projections 5 in it within the hole '5 in the end portion d of the ring. This clasp, which hugs both sides of the ring, has two transverse pieces, I m, on the outside edge of the ring, the one piece or bridge, I, holding the two sides of the clasp o firmly together and in shape and the pivoted of the clasp and wing m spreading laterally clasp in place. The other piece, m, is merely a wing from one side of the forward portion of the clasp outside of the ring, so that it may spring laterally when looking and unlocking the clasp. When the clasp is closed the bridge 1 enters within the notchf and the wing m within the notch g, thereby holding the end portions, d 6, together and leaving the outer surface of the clasp and edge of the ring flush or clear and smooth. .The front side ends of 60 the clasp are also formed with teats n, which spring into the hole 6 in the end portion 6 of the ring when the clasp is closed and spring out thereof when the clasp is opened, the divided construction of the clasp and the attachment of the wing m to one side only of the clasp admitting of this. These teats it look the clasp onto the ring when closed, and only enter 1 the hole 13 in the-end portion 6 of the ring sufficiently to prevent the clasp from becoming accidentally unlocked from the ring.

The teats 7c and it may be formed in the clasp after it has been put into its closed position on the ring by suitably indenting the metal sides of the clasp- The notch h in the inner edge of the end portion 6 of the ring is to facilitate the opening of the clasp.

When it is required to open the clasp the thumb-nail, a key, or any other suitable article is inserted in the inside of the ring and pressed outward against the clasp where it overlaps the notch h. This causes the teats n to spring out of the holei in the end portion 0, the sides to provide for this. The clasp B can then be swung up or outward by the thumb and finger, after which the end portions, d c, of the ring are sprung sidewise from each other to admit the keys onto the ring or to permit ot' taking them off, as required.

To close the clasp the ends of the ring are allowed to meet or enter sidewise, as at b a, one within the other, and the clasp then pressed down onto the ring, which causes the bridge I and wing m to pass into the notches f g and hold the two'ends of the ring from separating ciroumferentially, while the sidesof theclasp hold it from opening laterally, and the teats a snap into the hole 2' in the end portion 0, to Ice lock the clasp onto the ring and prevent it from being opened accidentally or of working 0 en.

Having tlius fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with the transversely-cut ring having a hole, a, in or near one of its meeting end portions, d, and a notch, f, in the outer edge thereof, the clasp B, having a bridge, 1, connecting its opposite sides to fit within said notch, and formed with teats k, arranged to enter the hole a on opposite sides of the ring and forming pivots for the clasp, substantially as described.

2. The clasp B,formed of pivoted side pieces connected by a bridge, I, and provided with a wing, an, attached to one of said side pieces, and with forward side teats, n n,in combination with the transversely-cut ring A, having outer edge-notches, f g, and a hole, 2', in the end portion, e, of the ring, essentially as described.

3. The transversely-cut ring provided with a notch, h, in the inner edge of one of its meeting end portions, in combination with a pivoted clasp for locking said end portions, essentially as described.

4. The combination or the ring A, having an irregular-an gular cut, I) c, outer ed ge-notches, f g, and an inner edge-notch, h, at or near its meeting ends, and the clasp B, having a connecting-bridge, Z, a wing, m, and side teats, k n, arranged to enter holes 6 in the meeting end portions of the ring, substantially as specified. BRYANT H. MELENDY. Witnesses:

CLARENCE H. BARR, JOSEPH SMITH. 

